This Trying Affair • Jegulus •

XII. You Wanna Scream

James knew something was wrong immediately. Regulus began avoiding him extensively. There were no Astronomy tower meet ups and no more group studying in the library. After spending so much time with him, it felt like a massive piece of himself was missing. 

No matter how often he tried to approach Regulus to talk to him privately about what had happened, the boy avoided him like he had an extreme case of dragonpox. James even went to Emily to ask her if she had any idea what was going on, but she shared that she didn't. Regulus had even been avoiding her the last week or so. She hadn't even been able to share the exciting news she had with him because he was always sitting with Slytherins in their shared classes now. 

Emily had decided to share the news with the Marauders instead. The next time she saw the group in the library, she hurried over and sat in the empty chair. 

"She said yes!" 

The teens looked up at her with various expression's of shock and confusion.

"Oh! You mean Lily!" Remus said, finally realizing what she was saying. 

"Yes, Lily. We're going on a date during the next Hogsmeade trip. God, I'm so nervous, but so excited, ya'know?"

The boys chuckled before nodding. "Yeah, we know," said Sirius. 

"Well, congratulations, Em. I hope it goes great," James smiled at her. 

The others also offered their well wishes to her. She thanked them each, her smile only growing wider. 

"Have you guys seen Regulus recently? I wanted to tell him first, but I haven't seen him around."

Remus and Sirius were the only two to really consider the question as Peter preferred Regulus's absence since it scared him and James had already been obsessively aware of it. James avoided glancing at Remus, who he could feel was staring at him. 

"No, we haven't. I don't think we've seen him since we wrote your letter," answered Sirius. 

"What about you, James?" 

James looked at her with wide eyes at the direction question, before adjusting in his seat and trying to act casual. "Yeah, I haven't seen him since then too." 

Emily frowned at this. She wrinkled her nose staring intently at James to see if he was lying, but why would he. Sirius would just assume it had been a friendly meeting with the new library hangs they had been doing.

"Hmmm... okay. Um... James, can I get your help with my Transfiguration homework?" 

"Sure," he coughed, confused but grateful for the change of conversation. 

Emily pretended to search through her bag before speaking again. "Ah, shit. I forgot it in the tower. Can you just come and help me there, James?" 

Sirius and Peter glanced between the two with furrowed brows, but James face was the most confused of the group.

"Uh..., why can't -," he hissed in pain. "Yeah, yeah, sure. Let's go." 

The two quickly stood and left the three Gryffindors behind. One was rolling his eyes at the two idiots and the other two had no idea what had just happened. 

"You don't think Emily is the girl our Prongs has been -" Peter asked quietly. 

"No! Well... -" 

"You two are absurd. Emily is a lesbian, who we just helped ask out Lily. She's probably just nervous for the date and wants James advice because James was obsesseing over Lily forever." Although Remus himself figured it was more likely about the missing Black, who none of them had spent a single minute in the last two weeks or so.